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MAGINNESS: EUROPE IS THE KEY TO REGAINING FINANCIAL STABILITY SDLP European candidate Alban Maginness MLA has underlined that Europe is the way forward to bring back financial stability in the North.
During a visit to West Belfast, accompanied by local SDLP MLA Alex Attwood and Councillors Tim Attwood and Matthew McDermott, Alban Maginness MLA met children from Sparkles integrated nursery on the Stewartstown Road, visited the Royal maternity Hospital, met people from Cloona Contact Centre, Footprints Women Centre and the Visteon site.
Speaking at the site Mr Maginness said: "In this election, the people of West Belfast face a fundamental choice.
"At a time when people across the North and indeed Europe are facing unprecedented challenges - an economic recession, rising unemployment, high food and fuel costs and an increasing risk of poverty - it is a choice between parties with very different ideas.
"It is a choice between the SDLP vision of a progressive Europe in which people and member states work together to address the issues that really matter and those who stand against the very institutions that have the power and influence to effect economic recovery.
"The SDLP is committed to creating a fairer, safer society that puts people first.
"Like many hard-working families and hard pressed firms in West Belfast, the SDLP laments the last five wasted years of inept political representation in Europe.
"In that time, West Belfast has suffered badly in terms of job losses as recent events at Visteon prove.
"As businesses go to the wall and ordinary decent people suffer, Sinn Fein and the DUP have failed to show any sort of leadership.
"Of course, these parties did not create the global downturn. But they did waste much better economic circumstances in the years they spent opposing, delaying and destabilising our shared institutions.
"And everyone will remember that our present problems manifested themselves on a Sinn Fein and DUP watch.
"Europe worked best for the people of the North-West when there was SDLP representation in the European Parliament.
"We worked hard to ensure that people of West Belfast benefited from our contacts and experience. We never forgot that the people who elected us deserved and expected a return for their support.
"And in the midst of the present recession there is one great certainty and that is the collective political and economic strength of the European Union and its institutions.
"I will put the needs of the people back at the top of the agenda.
"Bringing your interests to the very heart of decision-making and using the SDLP's influence to deliver.
"As anyone in West Belfast will recognise that European responses and international measures are needed, if we are to have financial stability and economic growth for the future, needs to support for the only party offering that manifesto - the SDLP."
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